This open access book explores the socio-economic challenges and recovery efforts in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on the pandemic’s wide-ranging impacts, particularly on individuals, households, and small and medium-sized enterprises across key sectors such as agriculture, garment manufacturing, and tourism. The analysis incorporates cross-cutting themes, including gender disparities and social protection, highlighting the uneven effects on different demographics. The book also discusses the policy responses adopted by these countries to mitigate socio-economic challenges. It examines the mechanisms employed during policy implementation, identifying key lessons for managing crises in the region. The book aims for a diverse audience, including students, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners. Offering evidence-based insights, this volume is an important resource for understanding crisis management and policy development in the context of developing countries.
Chapter 1. COVID-19 and Countries in the Mekong Region (Sovannroeun Samreth).- Chapter 2. Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Cambodia’s Trade, Global Value Chain and Export Competitiveness (Vutha Hing).- Chapter 3. Cambodian Cassava and COVID-19: An Analysis of Production, Productivity, and Gender Impacts (Kosal Nith).- Chapter 4. Navigating Crisis: Firm Performance and Strategic Responses in Cambodia (Naron Veung).- Chapter 5. The Impact of COVID-19 on the Lao Tourism Sector: Evidence from Employment and Value Added (Viriyasack Sisouphanthong).- Chapter 6. Development of Cross-Border E-Commerce Between Lao PDR and Neighboring Countries in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Case Study from Vientiane Capital (Somdeth Bodhisane).- Chapter 7. The Impact of COVID-19 on Garment Workers in Myanmar: Employment Disruptions, Gendered Burdens, and Gaps in Social Protection (Ngu Wah Win).- Chapter 8. Agricultural Resilience during COVID-19: The Case of Myanmar’s Maize Value Chain (Zaw Oo).- Chapter 9. A Gender-Sensitive Assessment of COVID-19’s Impact on Vietnamese Households: Evidence from the Textile, Garment, and Hospitality Sectors (Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong).- Chapter 10. Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Female Migrant Workers in Central Vietnam: Exploring Risk, Vulnerability, and Pathways to Resilience (Nguyet Thi Anh Tran).- Chapter 11. Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Mekong Region (Sovannroeun Samreth).
Sovannroeun Samreth, Saitama University Netra Eng, Cambodia Development Resource Institute Budy Resosudarmo, The Australian National University
